Symprove review: Is it worth the hype? (2023)

Lucy the founder of Edible Ethics vegan food blog eating vegan noodles in a plant based restaurant

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As a long-term IBS and GERD sufferer, I went on a 12-week course of Symprove to discover the real benefits of taking a water-based probiotic supplement. You’ll be surprised at the results!

Lucy drinking a shot of Symprove probiotic for her Symprove review
Table of contents

I am going to get up close and personal with a part of our body that we would normally prefer to flush away from our thoughts, well, until it’s time for a trip to the loo. Yes, I’m talking about our guts! So, let’s tuck into my review of Symprove, one of the most hyped-up gut supplements.

Symprove review summary

I’ve been using Symprove for over 6 months now because it is the only probiotic supplement that has properly healed my gut. It may be expensive, but it is without a doubt the best investment I have made into my health. Not only has it helped with my IBS, but I have also seen great improvements in my skin and my mental health. You and your gut will love adding this supplement to your daily routine.

Brand: Symprove

My rating: 4.8/5

A box of Symprove supplement with one bottle in front for this Symprove review
OfferCost
12-month subscription£39.99 pm
25% off first 3-months£37.50 pm
Flexible rolling subscription£49.99 pm

My experience: The Pros

I have been testing out Symprove for quite some time and after 6 months of continued use, I believe I am in the position to share my experience with you. You’ll be surprised by the results, I’m sure of it. I hope to provide one of the most thorough and honest Symprove reviews you can read on the internet!

Please note the following before reading: I am not a doctor, so please don’t take any of my experiences as fact. We are all different and so is our gut flora. Please consult a doctor or Symprove themselves if you have any questions.

Lucy drinking the Symprove probiotic with the bottle in her hand for her Symprove review
Soon you’ll be looking this happy with your probiotics too

Symprove helped my IBS

Unsurprisingly, many people are keen to find out whether or not Symprove can help with their Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This is the very reason I purchased my first-ever box of this supplement. Amazingly, after just a few weeks of taking it, I found my IBS issues began to disappear (also proven by science). The results included:

  • No bloating first thing in the morning
  • No bloating after eating food
  • No abdominal pains or spasms throughout the day
  • More solid poos and less frequent trips to the loo (I have IBS-D)
  • A huge reduction in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

After the recommended 12-week mark, the results just got better and better. I could even eat some of my trigger foods, like bread and beans, in moderation. Plus I was feeling a lot more comfortable eating out at restaurants and cafes when normally I’d sit uncomfortably all evening staring at the loos.

The icing on top of my IBS cake was the reduction in my acid reflux. I was so happy when I noticed that my debilitating coughing fits after meals had pretty much disappeared. Probably because the digestive enzymes inside my gut and now thriving and breaking down food effectively!

Other Symprove reviews on Trustpilot show that people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can benefit too!

Skin improvements from Symprove
Here are a few areas of my skin prone to eczema which have now healed

Symprove helped my skin

I have struggled with a mix of skin conditions throughout my life. When I was younger, I would get eczema behind my knees and in my elbow ditch, so I’d have to bathe in E45. As I got into my twenties, I began developing psoriasis. And what I found was that whenever my gut was in a bad place, so were my skin conditions.

The inflammation in your gut can have a knock-on effect on the inflammation of your skin (see scientific study). Therefore, since Symprove is so effective at reducing gut inflammation, by introducing friendly bacteria to the gut microbiome, it can also have positive effects on your skin. As long as your skin conditions are related, that is.

Now, I’m not going to claim that it got rid of my psoriasis or my eczema. Because, well, it didn’t. It now just sits around on my skin without ever really getting inflamed. Meaning it is still somewhat visible, but I am nowhere near as flakey, itchy and red in these areas. Plus it has stopped spreading to new areas. This has been a huge relief for me! Read this Symprove review from a verified buyer on Trustpilot about how it has also helped her psoriasis.

An aerial view of Symprove supplement amongst elements of my daily routine, photographed for this Symprove review
My daily routines and mental clarity have improved

Symprove improved my mental health

I had no idea just how badly my gut was affecting my mental health until I was 2 months into my Symprove journey. I gradually started to notice my brain fog was lifting and I was a lot less anxious and depressed. I am now finding it a lot easier to focus on my work and I am sleeping a lot better. Hello again dreams!

But knowing how interlinked our brains and guts are, I was not too surprised that when my gut started feeling healthier, so did my brain. I suspect that my gut was getting some well-deserved respite from the inflammation and was suddenly able to produce the serotonin my body needs to thrive.

I am also now spending a lot less time worrying about what my gut might do in response to the food and drinks I consume. Which gives my brain a lot fewer things to worry about in the first place. The way I see it, this supplement has ended the vicious cycle of my bad mental health feeding into my bad gut health, and vice versa.

I’ve tried so many things to improve my mental health, but looking after my gut microbiome with Symprove has been the greatest help. It’s probably all that serotonin being produced by my now very happy gut! Read this Symprove review from another happy customer on Trustpilot about how it helped her anxiety.

A box and single bottle of Symprove, a gut health supplement that improved my mental health - for this Symprove review
The water-based food supplement is easy to take and gentle on the stomach

I experienced no side effects

The question of whether or not Symprove gives you side effects is very commonly asked on the internet. Now, I can’t speak for absolutely everyone, but, I have had no negative side effects from taking Symprove. I have only experienced positive effects from taking their probiotics.

When I first started taking it I found my stools changed, but definitely for the better. I struggle with diarrhoea as part of my IBS (sorry, TMI I know) and it was relieved pretty quickly from Symprove. 

That being said, I do know a few people who experienced a little bit of diarrhoea in the first few weeks. This was due to their bodies experiencing a change inside the gut, a positive change at that. It shows that good bacteria are working away at improving your microbiome, further proving that these probiotics really do work.

All of us are different, as are our gut microbiomes, so some people will process live beneficial bacteria cultures differently from others. I personally believe that it has a lot to do with how your gut health is when you first start taking it, but also the state of your diet.

I, for instance, eat a lot of fermented food and drinks like kimchi and kombucha. So my gut was probably well-prepped for the live activated bacteria. If you don’t eat anything fermented, then don’t worry. That doesn’t mean you will get side effects from Symprove, but your gut may well be a little surprised at first!

Lucy drinking a shot of Symprove which is really easy to take - for her Symprove review
The mango & passionfruit flavour will bring tropical vibes to your morning routine

I found it really easy to take

One of the things that concerned me most about taking Symprove was that you need to take it first thing in the morning at least 10 minutes before you drink or eat anything. Not only was this a concern about stomaching the taste of the probiotic first thing after waking up, but it was also about adding it into my daily routine.

I had read Symprove reviews from customers online that suggested the taste isn’t too great. But having since tried all of the flavours, I can confirm that they are all pleasantly neutral! Here are the flavours that you can try:

Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t choose to drink pints of the stuff, but they are all really easy to stomach. Even if you don’t like the tang of fermented drinks like kombucha, you will get used to this probiotic drink. Plus, the benefits of taking this far outweigh any bad feelings towards the taste.

On top of this, I have found it really easily slots into my morning routine. I wake up and the first thing I’ll have is my shot of Symprove. Then I’ll start making my coffee (well, my partner will…) and by the time the coffee is served up my 10 minutes is done.

I’ve even been able to keep this up whilst travelling. I just make sure to take an unopened bottle with me and put it in the fridge wherever I am once it is opened. Otherwise, you can bring an opened bottle in a cool bag until you can put it in a fridge. It has lasted really well like this for me.

My experience: The cons

There is a lot to love about this water-based gut supplement, but there are a few concerns that I do have that may or may not affect your purchasing decision. Let me take you through these now.

It is a little pricey

One concern is that it may be a little too expensive for some people to buy on a regular basis. It pretty much costs double the amount of many powdered probiotic capsules. So, why is Symprove so expensive? Well, it costs this much because it actually works. There is significant investment placed into the science of their supplement, plus the ingredients themselves are of a high quality.

Their scientifically-backed probiotic is actually the only one on the market to actually arrive, survive, and thrive in the gut (see the science). I have wasted so much money on other tablet and powder probiotics over the years which simply didn’t work. I regret not putting that money into Symprove.

For those of you who would like to give it a go, but are concerned about the cost, they do have some pretty generous offers when purchasing through their website. For instance, I like their flexible subscription option (which I am on myself) which makes their monthly pack only £49.99. Plus, you can make the most of my exclusive 25% discount code making it £37.50 for the first 3 months: Follow this link to claim your 25% off.

This actually makes Symprove cheaper than some of the alternatives, like Ritual’s Synbiotic+ (prebiotics plus probiotics) which will set you back £50 a month. You can also find cheaper alternatives, like Wild Dose‘s anti-bloating pills. But the results of taking this powdered probiotic long-term won’t be quite like Symprove.

They use plastic packaging

It pains me to buy supplements inside plastic packaging, especially when there are so many other brands selling their supplements in much more eco-friendly alternatives. Annoyingly, Symprove does come inside plastic bottles. Admittedly, these come packaged inside an easy-to-recycle cardboard box, but the individual supplements themselves are housed inside plastic.

I guess plastic is probably the easiest and safest way to deliver live liquid bacteria, at this current moment. Fortunately, it is made out of PET, which is pretty easy to recycle. So just make sure to rinse out the bottles and place them in your household recycling.

My verdict: Symprove is worth the hype

Whilst it is hard to ignore the cost of this supplement, I can thankfully say that my Symprove treatment has been incredibly successful. It is the only probiotic that has actually gotten rid of all my gut health issues and also had a knock-on effect throughout the rest of my body, including my overall health, mental health, skin health, and immune system. There is a lot of hype behind this product and for a very good reason.

I’ve experimented with various probiotic supplements and embraced a diet rich in fermented foods (foods which are naturally rich in probiotics), but nothing has delivered the sustained results I’ve experienced with Symprove. Whether it’s the liquid form or simply exceptional science at work, I no longer hesitate at the price tag and have become a devoted subscriber.

I will admit, after my first 12-week treatment a few years back, I did try to come off of Symprove to see if other probiotics worked just as well. But nothing compared and I ended up wasting money. So I have since gone back to using it full-time. The proof of it working is in my continued purchasing!

I no longer live from Rennie soft chew to Rennie soft chew, with the occasional Andrews Salts drink mixed in for good luck. My IBS is way more manageable, my skin conditions have improved immensely, and my mental health is the best it has been in years. You truly get a lot for the price of one gut supplement.

  • Effectiveness: 10/10
  • Ease of use: 8/10
  • Taste: 8/10
  • Cost: 7/10

Where can you buy Symprove?

Symprove can be bought either directly from their own website (symprove.com) or it can be bought from online outlets like Amazon. Here are some key points why to pick one outlet over the other:

  • Price: One-off purchases of the 4-week and 12-week packs are around 5-10% cheaper on Amazon
  • Delivery fee: Free delivery from both outlets
  • Discount: Make the most of my exclusive 25% discount off monthly subscriptions when buying direct. Just click here: symprove.com
  • Subscription: Subscription offers are nearly half the price (from £37.50 per month) when buying from Symprove rather than on Amazon. Here is an overview of the different subscription offers:
A box of Symprove supplement with one bottle in front for this Symprove review
OfferCost
12-month subscription£39.99 pm
25% off first 3-months£37.50 pm
Flexible rolling subscription£49.99 pm

Frequently asked questions

Here are my answers to your FAQs.

What is Symprove?

Symprove is a water-based food supplement that delivers live bacteria straight to your gut. You take a shot every morning, 10 minutes before eating or drinking anything, allowing you to get on with your day with a happy microbiome and mind! Whilst they don’t call themselves a probiotic, due to European food laws, technically they contain probiotics and are used as such.

The ingredients are water, extract of germinated barley, acidity regulators: ascorbic acid, trisodium citrate, preservative: potassium sorbate, and four unique and scientifically proven strains of healthy bacteria:

It is a completely gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and FODMAP-friendly supplement. Unlike many alternative probiotics, this one comes in liquid form, so it has a higher chance of reaching your gut undisturbed by the digestive process.

What is the benefit of taking Symprove?

Symprove can help you with many aspects of your health, including overall gut health, immune health, digestive issues, and even your mental health. Making this the perfect supplement for anyone struggling with their stomach, and much more.

This can include IBS, GERD, IBD, and other gut-related health issues. On top of this, it is useful for anyone who takes a lot of medicine, like antibiotics or strong painkillers, since it will help with the nasty stomach-related side effects of taking these.

By delivering live good bacteria to your gut it helps your stomach to stay healthy, which has a knock-on effect all over your body. So if you also struggle with mental health issues like anxiety and depression, then you may well find that taking Symprove can have positive effects on this also.

How long does it take to start working?

A lot of people will start seeing results in the first 4 weeks of taking Symprove. But for some people, it can take the full 12 weeks before their gut starts to reap the benefits, particularly if your microbiome is in a bad state! This process can differ from person to person, depending on your gut health, your genes and your diet. Here is how quickly Symprove worked for me, month by month:

  • Month 1: I started to bloat less and found myself feeling less sick after eating within the first 2 weeks. After 4 weeks my stools had become a lot more normal and my GERD symptoms started to reduce.
  • Month 2: Between weeks 4-8 I continued to see reductions in bloating and excess gas. I would occasionally have minor flare-ups when eating trigger foods but they became a lot more manageable and weren’t as debilitating.
  • Month 3: After 12 weeks I really started to feel amazing. I found I no longer had any IBS symptoms, even after eating trigger foods like bread and pasta, and that my mental health had improved significantly. I was experiencing anxious thoughts much less and my depressive episodes had reduced greatly.

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4 responses to “Symprove review: Is it worth the hype? (2023)”

  1. Ben Edwards avatar
    Ben Edwards

    Nice review. A paragraph on the UCL resurch may be good. Summary at https://pressat.co.uk/releases/new-ucl-research-is-your-probiotic-dead-or-alive-aec1a08b3e281474e1ac000430862fc5/.

    Seems it was the only probiotic they tested that works well, the tested Yakult, Actimel, Align, Biobalance, Bio-kult, Probio7, Symprove &
    VSL#3.

    Also curious if anyone has tried reducing how often it is taken after the first 12 weeks. Maybe first week of each month (You get 4 bottles in a box and eatch bottle lasts about a week but needs to be consumed withing 10 days).

    1. Lucy Johnson avatar

      Hi Ben,

      Thank you for the comment! I am glad you liked the review.

      I appreciate you sharing the research – that is really interesting and I will be sure to add a section to this review summarising the Scientific research. I’d be interested to know how some of the more recently launched powdered probiotics stack up against Symprove in tests like these.

      What a great idea taking 1 bottle a month as a way of maintaining it. I know it would definitely help keep the costs down. I may even give that a go, so watch this space Ben!

      Have a great day 🙂
      Lucy

      1. Eva avatar
        Eva

        Hi my name is eva I was so bad filing sick cramps blotting gas flare ups diarrhoea bud thank to your product symprove probiotic it helped me a lot all my symptoms stopped I fill like I was born again thank you so much

        1. Lucy Johnson avatar

          Hi Eva, thank you for commenting and for sharing your experience! I’m really happy it has helped you too 🙂

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